SR/Live Sat, November 22, 2008

By Bruce Main

Another touring season is winding down.

Cables and snakes have been tested and repaired, wood painted, and cases treated to fresh new stenciling.

All racks have been repackaged to their standard configurations, trucks subjected to annual maintenance, and warehouse floor swept - twice.

Aside from a stray show here and there, for many hire companies, things are pretty quiet.

Yes, these are the days that turn sound company owner and manager thoughts to Alternative Revenue Sources (ARS).

The contracting/install market is generally one of first potential ARS markets that come to mind.

There’s that club downtown that wants to stop renting and buy a system.

And one of the churches that use your rental stock and services for the Christian rock festival now needs a new loudspeaker cluster in its sanctuary.

Pretty simple stuff, if you leave it at that.

But if you intend to be more than an incidental contractor, there are a whole lot of issues that must be addressed.